maybe i'll catch fire

[Hufflepuffs]

Everyone, please stay within the confines of our house quarters. I cannot stress this enough. I'll be honest - I do not know the details of what has happened, but I won't risk any of you. It is simply no longer safe. Even when we are allowed out, please be careful. Travel in groups, those of you without magic keep with those who have it. Outside the commons, nobody goes alone, and we change the password twice daily, if I have my way about it. I don't believe there is such as thing as 'too' safe, anymore.

[Wayne]

I believe this is where I ask to sign up as your personal superhero. This is fucking getting out of hand.

With the mist having lifted, it really has picked up my spirits. I wasn't even aware it was all that oppressive until it was gone.

[Private to Wayne]

Remember the art you gave me for Christmas? Super Wayne and Jusice Seeker?

Do you think the Ministry would have an objection if we used our magic to fight muggle crime?

[Hexed Private to Wayne]

Do you need...well, anything?

I tire of this, really I do.

I gave up everything to stay, and yet I would leave now, if I could.

I am certainly looking forward to spending tomorrow night in my own bed.

Well, in a manner of speaking, anyway.

[Hexed Private to: Ernie, Wayne, Zacharias, Sally, Megan, Nicky and Anthony]

I am, thus far, still alive. I still have my magic, as you can no doubt see.

I don't know if I mentioned, but I am in fact not fond of being sick whatsoever. I would like to move my head without the world swimming before it readjusts itself. I would like to not have a fever, and the chills, and constantly be pulling off or putting on blankets.

No word yet on whether this is more than a cold. But it is a rather awful cold.

La. I should have thought to bring a book.

I seem to have fallen ill, and I have taken myself to the infirmary. I wished to warn everyone who has had contact with me in the past few days.

[Nicky]

I am sorry. I can still hex this private, so perhaps it is a regular illness. But I am so very sorry.

[Private to Hufflepuffs]

I need someone to match my costume. Any takers? Seriously inquiries only because I'm not going to give it away to just anyone.

[Private to Anthony]

Have you seen Michael, since this all happened? Do you know if he is well?

For that matter, are you?

[Private to Simon]

Darling, are we going to this Halloween Ball together? And if that is the case, we really ought to consider matching costumes.

[Private to Ernie, Zacharias, Simon, Wayne, Meg and Sally]

Perhaps he should have made the resolution to stop causing drama with boys. Myself, I think he is a touch misguided.

On a much brighter note, happy birthday, my dearest Ernie!

I anticipate the match will go well today, and Hufflepuff will emerge victorious. Everyone has been practising very hard.

My apologies for my lack of attentiveness as of late.

[Simon]

Here is hoping I can keep you off my mind long enough to stop the quaffle this afternoon. I don't suppose we might arrange a private victory celebration for this evening, or perhaps you might console me in my defeat, should it come to that?

[Anthony]

Where are you
I'm sorry
It's my first match today. I wish you were here to see it

Wherever you've gone, I hope it makes you happier than this place does.

I wanted once again to thank everyone for the birthday wishes and the lovely gifts. Sally-Anne and Megan, Ioan and Ernie and Wayne and Zacharias, and especially you, Simon. Yours was by far the sweetest.

My apologies if I've forgotten anyone.

And happy birthday to you, Megan. Your present is forthcoming from the village.

I want to thank my darling Anthony for my lovely birthday gifts. I did not expect to spend my nineteenth birthday being formally severed from my family, but there you have it. Perhaps I am nothing but a foolish boy, but if my family the Finches and Fletchleys fail to understand the importance of the magical world to me, and my duties to it as a member of magical society, I suppose we have reached an irreconcilable point.

[Private]
I never thought it could be so hard. Not ever.

How delightful:

My darling Justinian,

Your father and I have been informed by your school about the awful fate that befell the Headmistress. In accordance with this news, we have deemed that school once and for all to be unfit for the continuance of your education, and we must insist that you withdraw yourself and return home to the manor. We will go through the proper channels to have you enrolled at university beginning with winter term, and you can leave that 'magic' business far behind.

I know you have been stubbornly insistent upon returning to that school for several years, and thus far we have indulged you out of our love for you. But we can no longer allow you return there. We should not have in the first place, after what those barbarians did to Madeline and attempted to do to you, as well. Now, there is no doubt in either your father's or my own mind: We will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. That being said, you shall leave immediately upon receipt of this letter, or you shall find yourself cut off. There will be no argument, this time.

With all my love,
Mother

So - is living your life the way you please worth twenty million pounds? Discuss.

[private to Michael]

My bed should seem very cold without you in it, tonight. Very cold.

[Private entry, though Anthony and Zacharias can read]

I won't deny being somewhat apprehensive about returning to Hogwarts. I suppose I don't share the bad memories most do, as I was not there, but the fact remains that I was not there. From an academic standpoint, I am behind. The people who did attend seventh year cannot have learned nothing. Additionally, it seems I am...outside. I cannot think of another way to phrase that. I did not experience that year as others did.

All of my life, I have striven to not be set apart, and now I am. I do not like it.

I am making my escape.

Not literally, of course, or at least not quite. However, my parents and I had something of a row the other night about my returning to school at Hogwarts - hardly surprising given the family traditions I am supposed to uphold, the events of the past year, &c. Fortunately they do not know about this new virus everyone seems to be up in arms about. Of course, these things are often less frightening than the media make them out to be, but the fact the Ministry have taken such drastic steps does worry me. Yes, best they do not know about that.

At any rate, I'm taking a room in muggle London until the first of September. A very nice room, as these things are accounted. A touch boring, and I do miss my books, but I really did bring enough with me to be going on with.

Of course, I couldn't bear the thought of boarding Edmund or my new cat, Arloe, so they are with me here (at a rather exorbitant fee, I might add). Anthony, I do want to thank you again for all your assistance with Arloe - though I may change his name as he does not seem to respond well to it. But aside from that he is sweet and gentle, though he can be a little naughty at times.

I think that is quite enough to be going on with. I will see many of you soon, it seems.

I think it is time I saw about getting a cat.

[Private]

I have made myself out to sound like an utter tramp. One does not simply act like a schoolgirl eager to lift her skirts with someone like him. But if he is half as attractive as I remember-
And he did seem somewhat amenable-
I shall have to discuss this with Zacharias, tomorrow. Perhaps. For now I should have the help prepare for his visit.

I do wonder what it would be like to kiss him, though.

Well, my goodness. How gracious, really, to learn that only months after my arrest warrant for 'stealing magic' - issued after my in absentia trial for such - has been rescinded, I have the opportunity to finish my education at Hogwarts.

Perhaps that is a trifle bitter. But I can't help but wonder what, exactly, our Ministry is doing to make reparations to first-generation wizards for the actions of the previous regime.

But of course, I will be returning to Hogwarts. I think that goes without saying.